Legislation in Senegal, strong measures to reduce tobacco consumption

Africa is at the centre of a predatory policy by the tobacco industry, which sees in this continent, its 70 million smokers and its strong population growth a new market to conquer. This conquest has been facilitated by the frequent absence of anti-smoking legislation, a high level of corruption in some countries and an aggressive marketing strategy. The outlook for the continent if nothing is done is therefore particularly bleak: Tobacco industry set to double number of customers in Africa, by 2030[1].

However, faced with this scourge with increasingly obvious effects, African countries mobilized and were active during the negotiations of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in the early 2000s. Since then, most countries have ratified the treaty and more and more countries have implemented voluntary legislation and public policies in this area. This is particularly the case of Senegal, which has been engaged in a fight against smoking since 2014.[2], through a coherent law, aiming to " countering strategies used by the tobacco industry to interfere in health policies, undermine anti-smoking efforts and oppose measures that go against its financial interests[3]s ".

The law, which came into force in July 2016 after being signed by the President of the Senegalese Republic, Macky Sall, now prohibits smoking in the premises. Furthermore, The sale of tobacco to minors has been banned, such as selling cigarettes within 200 metres of a school or hospital. Direct or indirect advertising of tobacco is also prohibited., under penalty of heavy fines and one to three years of imprisonment. Since August 26, 2016, finally, the packages have been covered with 70% health messages and images indicating the dangers incurred by a smoker[4]. Finally, cigarettes can no longer be sold individually.

Also observed in Chad, Madagascar, South Africa, Uganda, Benin, Niger, Kenya, Togo and Mauritius, this approach to tackling the health, economic and environmental issue of smoking is a step in the right direction and must be continued.